Super-concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softening composition

Abstract

Super-concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softeners are provided which contain more than 35%, by weight, of a fabric softening system based on an amidoamine fabric softener, such as bis(tallow amidoethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl amine and a quaternary diester fabric softener, such as N-methyl, N,N,N-triethanolamine ditallow ester quaternary ammonium salt. A fatty alcohol ethoxylate surfactant and a polyethylene glycol polymer or a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether polymer are integral components of the liquid composition. The super-concentrated compositions may be used at low levels or may be further diluted prior to use.

Claims

1. A concentrated, stable, pourable and water dispersible liquid fabric softener composition containing a perfume and having a viscosity of less than about 2,000 centipoise at 20.degree. C. comprising an aqueous dispersion containing

(a) more than 35%, by weight, of a combination of softening components (A) and (B) wherein (A) is an inorganic or organic acid salt of a fabric softening compound of formula (I): ##STR17## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently represent C.sub.12 to C.sub.30 aliphatic hydrocarbon groups,

R.sub.3 represents (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.p H, CH.sub.3 or H, T represents NH,

n=1 to 5,

m=1 to 5, and

p=1 to 10; and

(B) is a biodegradable fatty ester quaternary ammonium compound of formula (II): ##STR18## wherein each R.sub.4 independently represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms,

R.sub.5 represents (CH.sub.2).sub.s R.sub.7 where R.sub.7 represents an alkoxy carbonyl group containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, benzyl, phenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)--alkyl substituted phenyl, OH or H; R6 represents (CH.sub.2).sub.t R.sub.8 where R.sub.8 represents benzyl, phenyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) alkyl substituted phenyl, OH or H;

q, r, s and t, each independently, represent a number of from 1 to 3; and x is an anion of valence a;

the weight ratio of component (A) to component (B) being from about 5:1 to about 1:5, and with the proviso that at least 15% of hydrocarbon groups containing two or more carbon atoms in components (A) and (B) combined contain at least one unsaturated carbon to carbon bond;

(b) an aqueous solvent including an anti-gelling effective amount of electrolyte;

(c) a fatty alcohol ethoxylate in an amount sufficient to emulsify the perfume in the composition; and

(d) an effective amount of a polyethylene glycol polymer or a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether polymer having a molecular weight of at least about 200, said effective amount being sufficient to prevent gelation of the composition.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein in the compound of formula (I) R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently C.sub.16 to C.sub.22 alkyl or alkenyl; m and n are integers from 1 to 3; and R.sub.3 represents (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.p H wherein p is from 1.5 to 3.0.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein at least 20% of hydrocarbon groups containing two or more carbon atoms in components (A) and (B) combined contain at least one unsaturated bond.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein less than 70% of said hydrocarbon groups are unsaturated.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the total amount of components (A) and (B) is from above 35% to about 50%, by weight, of the fabric softening composition.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the total amount of components (A) and (B) is from above 35% to about 40%, by weight, of the composition.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of (A):(B) is from about 2:1 to 1:2.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solvent comprises water and from about 0.05% up to about 2.0%, by weight, of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt electrolyte.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein component (A) is a mixture of salts of bis(tallowamidoethyl)-2-hydroxyethylamine) and bis(hydrogenated tallow amidoethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl amine; and component (B) is N-methyl-N,N,N-triethanolamine ditallowester quaternary ammonium methosulfate.

10. A method of imparting softness to fabrics comprising contacting the fabrics with an effective amount of the fabric softener composition of claim 1.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said fabrics are contacted during the rinse cycle of an automatic laundry washing machine.